The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Monday, complained about the neglect of the 50-year-old Gombe-Bauchi Expressway, noting that the Federal Government instead built a railway to Maradi in Niger Republic.
Yahaya, who doubles as Gombe State Governor, expressed his displeasure when he undertook an inspection of the Sunday collapsed bridge in Kalanja, Bauchi State.
He emphasized that, in the last five years, the road had worn out and was in dire need of reconstruction because of its importance to businesses in the North-East region.
He said, “I had to come because I have no option. This is not Gombe State, this is Bauchi, I’m sure the governor of Bauchi has been here, don’t be surprised if the governor of Adamawa comes here or Borno State because of the importance of this road. It has been a lingering issue for nearly five years but I know in the last three years it used to happen like this either in the other points of Tashan Tulmi and Bara town.
“The Federal Government has to come in as a matter of urgency and address this issue. You can see vehicles and people around all our livelihood is dependent on this road. Yesterday I had to call the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works before I was at the Federal Ministry of Works four times, on this issue and it has not been solved. This is part of Nigeria, I just want to remind them this is part of Nigeria and this problem has to be solved; if they had all the money to take a rail line and go to Maradi in Niger Republic they should have no reason not to address this issue in Gombe State, In Adamawa, Bauchi States and it’s an emergency.
“We need bridges and complete reconstruction because this road is nearly 50 years old and it can’t stand any longer.”
